Astrid Lindgren, illustrated by Ilon Wikland, translated from the Swedish by Jill Morgan Read Online Free Page B

thought it would be so fun to go and meet Nonno’s grandmother.
    We had to take all Nonno’s lambs and sheep with us. And Miramis. We were a whole caravan. First went Pompoo and Nonno and I, then came the sheep and lambs and at the end rambled Miramis. Practically as slow as Charlie. We walked over hills and played as we went along. The lambs probably wondered where we were taking them. But I think they enjoyed it, because they bleated and skipped around us the whole time.
    When we had walked for many hours and over many hills, we came to Nonno’s house. It was the kind of house in fairy tales, too, a funny little cottage with a thatched roof and lots of lilacs and jasmine outside.
    â€œBe quiet now, so we can surprise Grandmother,” said Nonno.
    A window stood open and we could hear someone bustling about inside. We lined up by the window, Nonno and Pompoo and I.
    â€œLet’s start,” said Nonno. “One, two, three!”

    And we did. We played such a merry tune that the lambs skipped and danced when they heard it. An old, old woman came to the window; she looked very kind. She was Nonno’s grandmother and she clapped her hands and said, “Oh, what beautiful music!”
    We played to her for a long time and she remained by the window listening until we were done. She was very old and looked like a character out of a fairy tale, though she was a real grandmother.
    After that we went into the cottage. Nonno’s grandmother asked us if we were hungry, and we were. So she brought out a loaf of bread and cut thick slices from it which she gave us. It was crisp brown bread, and it was the best bread I’ve ever eaten in my life.
    â€œOh, it tastes good,” I said to Nonno. “What kind of bread is it?”
    â€œI don’t think it’s any special kind of bread,” said Nonno. “We call it the Bread That Satisfies Hunger.”

    Miramis wanted to eat with us, too. He came and stuck his head through the open window and neighed a little. We laughed at him because he looked so funny. But Nonno’s grandmother stroked his nose and gave him some of the good bread too.
    After that I was thirsty and when I told Nonno, he said, “Follow me.”
    He took us into the garden, and there was a clear well. Nonno lowered a wooden pail down into the well and brought up some water and we drank out of the wooden pail. It was the coolest and best water I’ve ever tasted in my life.
    â€œOh, that’s very good,” I said to Nonno. “What kind of well is it?”
    â€œIt’s not any special kind of well,” said Nonno. “We call it the Well That Quenches Thirst.”
    Miramis was thirsty, and the lambs and sheep too, so we gave them water to drink.
    Soon it was time for Nonno to walk back to the pastures among the hills, with his sheep. He asked his grandmother for the cloak he would use to wrap up in while sleeping out in the pastures at night, watching over his sheep. She brought out a brown cloak and gave it to him. I thought Nonno was very lucky to be able to sleep in the pastures. It was something I’d never done before. Sometimes Ben and his mama and papa used to ride their bikes out to a campground. They would pitch their tent on a pleasant wooded hillside and sleep in their sleeping bags at night. Ben always said it was the best time, and I believe it.
    â€œI wish I could sleep outside all night,” I said to Nonno.
    â€œYou can,” said Nonno. “Follow me!”
    â€œNo,” I said. “My father the King would be worried if I didn’t come home.”
    â€œI can take a message to our lord King that you’ll be sleeping out in the pastures tonight,” said Nonno’s grandmother.
    â€œAnd to my father, too,” said Pompoo.
    â€œTo the Master Rose Gardener, too,” agreed Nonno’s grandmother.
    Pompoo and I were so thrilled that we skipped and jumped even more than the lambs.
    But